ADDICTION MEDICINE

ACGME-Accredited Primary Care ADM Fellowship

The fellow functions as a consultant in Addiction Medicine in numerous settings: inpatient detox & consult service, outpatient specialty clinic, Labor and Delivery, NICU, and Emergency Department. The graduate will be able to lead the transformation and integration of addiction medicine in the primary care setting –serving as a consultant for more nuanced care of substance use disorders. We expect graduates to sit for the specialty certification exam in Addiction Medicine through the ABPM.

We are proud to be one of the first ACGME accredited programs and are approved for 4 positions.

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How to Apply

Mission Statement

Our mission is to train full spectrum Addiction Specialists who provide addiction services across all age groups and in all settings focusing on the underserved.

ADDICTION MEDICINE INTERVIEWS

We accept applications through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).

INTERVIEWS

Interviews will be held from August 20th through September 18th for qualified candidates.

UNFILLED POSITIONS

If any positions remain unfilled, the Fellowship will continue accepting applications on a rolling basis.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Successful completion of an ACGME accredited residency training program with board certification or anticipated board certification prior to the start of fellowship.
Family or Internal Medicine preferred. Other specialties will be considered.
Eligible for an unrestricted California Medical License and DEA.
Must be eligible to be a Medi-Cal (Medicaid) and Medicare provider.

HOW TO APPLY

We accept applications through ERAS.

ERAS opens for review on July 17th, 2024 and we will begin reviewing applications and offering interviews through September 9, 2024.

Submit the following through ERAS:

Completed ERAS Application
CV
1-2 page personal statement stating your goals as well as career plans
At least 2 Letters of Recommendation that address your suitability for a career as an Addiction Medicine specialist
Board Transcripts
Photo

We look forward to reviewing your application!

FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM DETAILS

BACKGROUND

There are over 20 Million people struggling with addiction in the United States – yet there are only 4,400 addiction specialists available to care for these patients. Abuse of illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco cost our country more than $740 billion annually. The County of Ventura experiences 14 deaths per 100,000 people due to addiction disorders and overdoses. 5.7 per 100 people in our county struggle with Opiate Use Disorder (OUD) – that’s 5.7% of our population! To combat this public health epidemic, we need more addiction trained primary care physicians in Ventura County. CHCF estimates that adding at least 108 buprenorphine providers will double our current number and fill the treatment gap.

We will provide trainees the opportunity to become academic and clinical leaders in the subspecialty of Addiction Medicine. Candidates are ideally primary care physicians looking to continue primary care practice and integrate addiction medicine in their daily healthcare practice in Ventura County. An essential component of the fellow’s role will be to help train primary care providers (residents and practicing providers) in the use of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) such as buprenorphine. They will work with community clinics, EDs, hospitals, maternity practices, and existing addiction treatment programs. This will help close the gap of 108 needed providers mentioned above.

EXPERIENCE

Trainees will gain expertise in:

Assessment and management of patients with various substance use disorders.
Assessment and management of co-occurring psychiatric co-morbidities.
Understanding the different levels of care, as defined by ASAM: including Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP), Hospital Care, Residential Treatment Centers (RTC), Social Model Detoxification Centers, Sober Livings, etc.
Gain comfort in managing acute withdrawal and intoxication states.
Management of chronic pain, especially in the setting of addiction.
Management, including the treatment of Hepatitis C.
The various counselling strategies from cognitive behavioral therapy to peer and groups to 12 steps.
Management of addiction during pregnancy including medication assisted treatment.
Management of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome in the NICU and outpatient methadone tapers.
Harm reduction strategies such as naloxone distribution, clean needle exchange, HIV PREP, etc.
Teaching the fundamentals of addiction to primary care residents at the Ventura County Family Medicine Residency Program and other clinics and health care facilities in our county.
Managing sobriety through medication assisted treatment.
Research: There will be allocated time for a research project during the fellowship.
Leadership: Participate in hospital, clinical, insurance, and other local committees such as the MERIT (Medication Error Reduction Team), CORE Committee (Chronic Opiate Review and Evaluation), Gold Coast HCP Opioid Committee.
Experience locations include:
- Emergency Department and Inpatient Training including the inpatient detox unit & consultation service: Ventura County Medical Center
- Outpatient training: Addiction Clinic for the Homeless, Academic Family Medicine Center Primary Care Clinic, and our satellite primary care clinics.
- Behavioral Health Training: Rotating with Ventura County Behavior Health Alcohol and Drug Program.
- Residential Treatment Centers/Detox Centers: Multiple community stakeholders and organizations including Prototypes Women’s Center, and others.
- Methadone: Inpatient and OTP exposure.
- Pain Management: Rotations with Pain Specialist at VCMC – inpatient consultations and outpatient.
- Obstetrics: VCMC and Prototypes.
- Neonatal: VCMC NICU and outpatient clinics.
- Tele-addiction training.
- Adolescents: Working with Nate's Place, an adolescent center.
Academics: Precepting and Teaching at the Academic Family Medicine Center Family Medicine Residency Clinic.

BENEFITS

$80,000 per year, to be paid monthly as employee of Ventura Faculty Associates
Malpractice insurance (covered under VCHCA)
20 business days (4 weeks) of paid vacation
5 business days (1 week) of paid CME
CME budget: $1000
Health insurance
Worker’s compensation insurance

Ready to apply to the program?

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